Thanks to Crown, Decostar is improving ergonomics and reliability within the warehouse
Dutch home décor wholesaler Decostar has significantly improved the efficiency of its warehousing operations after expanding its long-standing partnership with Crown.
The company, based in Apeldoorn, supplies a wide range of indoor and outdoor decorative items under its own Countryfield brand as well as products from selected manufacturers. From its 21,000m² distribution centre in IJsselmuiden, Decostar serves wholesalers, retailers and major retail chains across Europe.
Rapid growth in recent years has increased the company’s storage and handling requirements, prompting investment in new forklift technology to speed up pallet movements and improve efficiency. Around 11,000 items are now stored across 29,000 pallet positions in four warehouses, with volumes swelled each year by container shipments from the Far East.
Decostar’s relationship with Crown dates back to 2013, when it acquired its first fleet of lift trucks. Since then, the collaboration has grown to include 16 units, with pallet trucks and order pickers used for loading, unloading and picking tasks. Many of the trucks are fitted with extended forks, enabling staff to handle multiple pallets at once and reduce unnecessary travel through the aisles.
Supply Chain Manager, Bastiaan Vosselman, highlighted the role of Crown’s ESR Series reach trucks in boosting performance. “The outstanding thing about it is the particularly fast pallet lifting and lowering,” he said. “This saves us a great deal of time because we then spend far less time waiting in front of the shelves. Our highest racks are over 11 metres high, so these faster processes quickly add up to considerable time savings.”
According to Decostar, the Xpress Lower technology fitted to the ESR Series trucks has accelerated pallet handling by more than 18 per cent. Average throughput per reach truck has risen from 185 pallets per shift to 219, delivering five-figure annual savings in the first year of operation. Integrated cameras mounted on the forks have further improved safety and precision when accessing goods at height.
The fleet also includes two SP Series high-level order pickers, which offer operators spacious compartments and performance-oriented lift and driving functions for safe and fast retrieval at height.
Historically, the warehouse struggled with seasonal surges, particularly before the spring and Christmas retail seasons. Improved order management and workflow reorganisation, combined with additional Crown trucks, have helped to smooth capacity throughout the year and reduce the need for short-term rentals during peak demand.
Vosselman said the decision to continue with Crown was straightforward: “We’ve grown considerably in recent years, which has resulted in a demand for additional lift trucks. We decided in favour of Crown because we’ve already had a good experience with their products in the past. Crown lift trucks are reliable and safe. And we’ve always had a pleasant working relationship and become accustomed to Crown’s excellent service.”
Decostar’s workforce has also benefited from technology enhancements such as pick-by-voice headsets, integrated with the warehouse management system. The voice-directed system gives precise picking instructions and reduces errors, while operators confirm completed orders by voice command before moving on to the next task.
All Crown lift trucks in operation are designed with ergonomics in mind, reducing physical strain and helping maintain long-term operator health. Their robust build and intuitive handling have also minimised downtime, ensuring consistent operational readiness in a fast-moving supply chain.